Beware: Con Edison Scam Hitting Boro Park

By Idy Perl

A scam is spreading wildly around our neighborhood, and BoroPark24 just spoke with a follower to hear his story firsthand.

Boro Park resident Mr. Markowitz received a call from someone claiming to be Con Edison. They told him that he hadn’t paid his bills and that they will be disconnecting his electricity. Mr. Markowitz asked them to confirm his address, and when they gave him an address where he had lived over 20 years before he became suspicious.  He then asked them to confirm his name, and they gave him the correct name. 

When he told the person on the phone that he didn’t live at that address anymore, they said it’s the information they have and that he needs to pay the bill. They said he can either pay it over the phone right then or they can provide him with a direct line where he can call to pay it as well. 

Mr. Markowitz told them that he’ll look up the Con Ed number on his own, and they quickly tried to convince him to call the number they provided. 

Once he put down the phone, Mr. Markowitz shared the story on his WhatsApp status and quickly got messages from over 20 people in Boro Park and Williamsburg who had received the same call. One person said that he had someone knock on his door and say that they’re from Con Ed, but when he said he’s going inside to call the company and confirm they quickly ran away. 

Mr. Markowitz is urging the community: "Don't get caught up in the scam. Never, ever share personal or payment information with strangers."